To whom will you go? -- Friends Sharing Scripture

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

Subject: To whom will you go?

Author:
Hillbilly

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 17:23:56 06/21/13 Fri

John 6:67-68 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go?---/.

Peter is confronted with a dilemma which focuses his life on a choice he must make. Jesus has just hit His followers with a very hard teaching. in their minds it contradicted God's law. The problem was not with the teaching but with their understanding of what Jesus was actually telling them. Many of His followers turned and left Him and followed Him no more. Jesus turned to His chosen twelve and asked them pointedly; " Will ye also go away?"

How many times in our Christian lives have we reached a point of frustration or seeming hopelessness. Maybe we reached a point where we felt it was not worth it. We decide to turn our backs on the whole thing and give up. Jeremiah came to that position. He was locked away in a dungeon for speaking what God told him to speak, decided to throw in the towel. He felt God had turned His back on him. Jeremiah said: "I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name". The way is too rough and I am just going to quit is a good paraphrase. The problem with this is that God is still God and just because you want to quit doesn't mean He will turn His back on you. If you are God's child then He is not going to turn you loose any more than you would give up a child who was troubled.

Jeremiah contemplates his decision and comes to a conclusion. He decided to not speak for God anymore but this still left him in the dungeon without hope. Jeremiah found out that leaving God had it's consequences. Now he could not even pray and feel God's presence. I don't know how long he resisted God but he penned for us the conclusion of the matter: "But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (Jer. 20:9)

Jeremiah as Peter recognized something that we need to grasp. If you turn from God where then are you going to go? To whom now will you turn to fill the place that Jesus occupied in your heart? To whom will you pray and receive comfort and peace? You may turn to the pantheon of gods but what solace will you receive from a man made or self made God? There is not one false god that can do for us what God has done and continues to do.

If you reject Christianity what or whom will you embrace? Many embrace atheism and say I will have nothing to do with religion. The problem is that atheism is a religion in itself that teaches its adherents that "Lady Luck" and chance formed and molded them. They must embrace evolution and deny the Creator thus leaving themselves as the highest authority in their own lives. When in desperation they must turn inward or to other vessels of flesh and bone to help them they find they are rolling the dice and hoping for the best. Their doctor, when faced with catastrophic illness becomes their God for in their eyes he is the only one who can deliver them.

How sad to have to depend solely on the "arm of flesh" for deliverance. ( 2 Chronicles 32:7-8) Jesus has told us "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." What comfort there is in knowing that Jesus is with us and is only a prayer away from being our shield, fortress and comforter.

Weigh the words of Peter and the scriptures. If things get so bad in your spiritual life that you want to turn from Jesus then I ask. To whom will you go. Who can do more for you that Jesus has already done? What "god" can give you the promises that Jesus has given you? What god can you reach out and touch through fervent prayer as you can with Jesus. What god can promise you everlasting life in a perfect heaven with perfect sinless people after you die. What god can promise you an eternal painless, sinless and joyful eternity with him and keep that promise? What god do you know of that died in your place that you might have life? Only one and His name is Jesus!

All these are questions we need to face. Jesus is worthy of our every devotion. He is worthy of any commitment we might make to Him. He is worthy of our love, praise and worship. No other god can fit the Bill.

To whom will you go?

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Amen, preacher!!!
Author: dori [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 23:10:13 06/22/13 Sat Very well stated, Hillbilly. No one can argue with your study--at least no one who puts his faith in Jesus Christ. He's the answer, the light, and the Word!

[> Subject: Yes
Author: Caren [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 20:01:47 07/04/13 Thu Wonderful! Thank You Hillbilly.